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Final Re Cap: Sansui SP 70 And Realistic Optimus Ones

Bodyblue

Bodyblue

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After recapping my Optimus 5s and Nova 6s I decided just to order the caps for the Optimus Ons and Sansui SP 70s. @Lavane of course was nice enough to help me order the right caps from Parts Express.

The SP 70s are unusual for an early 70s Sansui speaker. It is a two way with dome tweeter and eight inch woofer in a really big and heavy cabinet. I have heard and owned several of the multi driver Sansuis and have always found them rather a mess. But these, especially now, are clear as a bell with very very deep and solid bass. For testing I used a Sansui G 5700 and it (no surprise) is a great combo. The tweeter has a lot of detail now with a very similar range to my OLAs and KLH6s. But the most incredible thing is the bass. The vintage favorite, The Small Advent, which I have owned, would have a hell of a time going deeper than the SP70......and are easier to drive. They also have walnut veneer and teak grills. They are very much like the Marantz Imperial Six in that they were a fairly poor seller that went mostly ignored and were total ass kickers.

As can be seen from the pics, the Sansuis are very heavily built and huge for an 8 in two way unit. The new cap were not much bigger so even I was able to get them in about the same place as the old ones. And the back just unscrewed means it was easy to get to the crossover and work on.




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The Realistics took a bit more time. The crossover comes right out but the huge new 33uf caps just dont fit on the crossover so they have to hang off the the side.

Before the new caps the O Ones sounded pretty decent: a smooth three way unit with average highs, decent midrange and pretty decent bass from the 10 in woofer and decent size cabinet. After the caps they really brightened up with more midrange and even fuller bass. The Sansuis take them in bass but the Realistics are a bit smoother overall I think.

The best way to describe them is to say they sound very similar to the KLH 17 ( I owned a set for a while) but with substantially better bass. The mids dont jump out like they do with the Optimus 5s, they are just a super smooth unit. The bass is damn solid as well. While not as heavy or well built as the Sansuis, they are still decently heavy with cabinets full of fiberglass.

And those freaking German caps were $10 each!

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We listened to the Realistics last night as we fell asleep. ( We listen to a bedtime playlist on Spotify every night using a timer). The playlist is Bill Evan's type stuff and it just sounded superb on the Optimus'. Very smooth and detailed, they are a fantastic jazz speaker.

Tonight will listen to the Sansuis.
 
One thing about the Sansuis is that the bass has a firm and sharp edge to it. It's the only way I can describe it. The louder it gets the stronger and snappier it gets, but does not get harsh.
 
Can anyone explain the crossover for the Sansui's? They are in the first post. It isn't a simple second order with a coil, cap and and a few resistors to adjust the tweeter. I see only one resistor , two caps and two coils. There is the 3 position switch on the back. So, instead of just using resistors to adjust the tweeter output, does this crossover change the crossover point?
Crossovers are still all voodoo and witchcraft to me. :D
 
I put the Sansuis on the 22 wpc Realistic STA 82 from the Kenwood KR 8010 with 125 wpc. At around 93 db they are easy to drive and the Realistic drives them easily and clearly. The only difference I noticed is the bas is more layed back with the 82. Not a huge difference but it is there.

Oh and want a good test for mid range performance? Play "Song For You" by The Carpenters. Yes yes I know blahs blahs blahs, but the quality of their recordings were way ahead of their time and the clarity of her voice is stunning. Also during the sax solo I can hear the players lips on the red and his breaths.....just incredible
 
Bodyblue said:
After recapping my Optimus 5s and Nova 6s I decided just to order the caps for the Optimus Ons and Sansui SP 70s. @Lavane of course was nice enough to help me order the right caps from Parts Express.

The SP 70s are unusual for an early 70s Sansui speaker. It is a two way with dome tweeter and eight inch woofer in a really big and heavy cabinet. I have heard and owned several of the multi driver Sansuis and have always found them rather a mess. But these, especially now, are clear as a bell with very very deep and solid bass. For testing I used a Sansui G 5700 and it (no surprise) is a great combo. The tweeter has a lot of detail now with a very similar range to my OLAs and KLH6s. But the most incredible thing is the bass. The vintage favorite, The Small Advent, which I have owned, would have a hell of a time going deeper than the SP70......and are easier to drive. They also have walnut veneer and teak grills. They are very much like the Marantz Imperial Six in that they were a fairly poor seller that went mostly ignored and were total ass kickers.

As can be seen from the pics, the Sansuis are very heavily built and huge for an 8 in two way unit. The new cap were not much bigger so even I was able to get them in about the same place as the old ones. And the back just unscrewed means it was easy to get to the crossover and work on.




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Hi! From pictures I can see the capacitors values. Can you sent me the model? Thanks!
 
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